Dark chocolate 'may cut smokers' heart risk'

Dark chocolate could help smokers cut the risk of serious heart disease, a study at the University Hospital in Zurich has found.

Researchers used ultrasound scans to look at blood flow and clot-causing platelets in the arteries of 25 male smokers after they ate white and dark cholocate. Antioxidants rose two hours after eating 40g of dark chocolate, blood flow was smoother and the build-up of platelets halved.

White chocolate made no difference, they say in the journal Heart. "Only a small treat of dark chocolate may benefit vascular health," said Roberto Corti who led the study.